Deproteinised natural rubber latex grafted poly(dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) – poly(vinyl alcohol) blend membranes: Synthesis, properties and application

• Published in: International journal of biological macromolecules 2018-02, Vol.107 (Pt B), p.1821-1834
• Main Authors: Jayadevan, Janisha, Alex, Rosamma, Gopalakrishnapanicker, Unnikrishnan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; Cell Death - drug effects; Cell Survival - drug effects; Deproteinised natural rubber latex; Drug Liberation; Drug release; Dynamic Light Scattering; Humidity; Kinetics; Latex - chemical synthesis; Latex - chemistry; Membranes, Artificial; Methacrylates - chemical synthesis; Methacrylates - chemistry; Mice; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Nylons - chemical synthesis; Nylons - chemistry; Polyvinyl Alcohol - chemical synthesis; Polyvinyl Alcohol - chemistry; Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Redox intiated graft copolymerisation; Rhodamines - chemistry; Rubber - chemical synthesis; Rubber - chemistry; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; Thermogravimetry
• ISSN: 0141-8130; 1879-0003
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2017.10.042

•Effective deproteinisation of NRL (DNRL) using urea and a polar organic solvent in presence of a surfactant.•Efficient graft copolymerisation of DMAEMA onto NR particles using a redox initiator system CHP/TEPA.•Physical modification, of chemically modified DNRL, with PVA to form membranes.•Enhanced hydrophilicity for the modified membranes.•Membranes ideal for the release of a model drug rhodamine B into media with different ionic strengths. Natural rubber latex was initially deproteinised (DNRL) and then subjected to physicochemical modifications to make high functional membranes for drug delivery applications. Initially, DNRL was prepared by incubating with urea, sodiumdodecylsulphate and acetone followed by centrifugation. The deproteinisation was confirmed by CHN analysis. The DNRL was then chemically modified by grafting (dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) onto NR particles by using a redox initiator system viz; cumene hydroperoxide/tetraethylenepentamine, followed by dialysis for purification. The grafting was confirmed by dynamic light scattering, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The grafted system was blended with a hydrophilic adhesive polymer PVA and casted into membranes. The membranes after blending showed enhanced mechanical properties with a threshold concentration of PVA. The moisture uptake, swelling and water contact angle experiments indicated an increased hydrophilicity with an increased PVA content in the blend membranes. The grafted DNRL possessed significant antibacterial property which has been found to be retained in the blended form. A notable decrease in cytotoxicity was observed for the modified DNRL membranes than the bare DNRL membranes. The in-vitro drug release studies using rhodamine B as a model drug, confirmed the utility of the prepared membranes to function as a drug delivery matrix.